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HelpTEST ID CRSBF Crystal Identification, Body Fluid
Reporting Name
Crystal ID, BFSpecimen Type
Body FluidSpecimen Required
Specimen Required
Specimen Type: Synovial Fluid, Prosthetic Joint Fluid
Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)
Acceptable: Green top (heparin)
Specimen Volume: 2 mL
Specimen Type: Bile Fluid
Container/Tube: Red top
Specimen Volume: 2 mL
Specimen Type: Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL)
Container/Tube: Body fluid container
Specimen Volume: 2 mL
Specimen Type: Pleural Fluid, Peritoneal Fluid, Pericardial fluid
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Body fluid container
Acceptable: Lavender top (EDTA) or Green top (heparin)
Specimen Volume: 2 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Body Fluid | Refrigerated (preferred) | |
| Ambient | 24 hours | |
| Frozen | ||
Method Name
Compensated Polarized Light Microscopy
Reject Due To
All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.Reference Values
None seen
If present, crystals are identified.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Report Available
1 daySpecimen Retention Time
1 weekPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
CPT Code Information
89060
Useful For
Identifying the presence and type of crystals in body fluid
Clinical Information
Birefringent crystals are found in the synovial fluid of more than 90% of patients with acutely inflamed joints.
Monosodium urate crystals are seen in gouty fluids and calcium pyrophosphate crystals are seen in chondrocalcinosis. The urates are usually needle-shaped, and the calcium crystals are often rhomboidal. Cholesterol crystals may also be observed.
Cautions
Powdered anticoagulants such as oxalate are themselves crystalline or may cause crystals to form; their use may cause false-positive results or mask the presence of synovial fluid crystals definitive for the disease.
Method Description
The specimen is examined with a polarizing microscope with and without a first-order red compensator. Cholesterol crystals appear as bright, square or rectangular plates. Pyrophosphate crystals, rhomboidal, are weakly birefringent. Urate crystals are mainly needle-shaped and strongly doubly refractile; they may be found within leukocytes.(Hussong JW, Sorensen E, Perkins SL, et al: Laboratory methods. In: Hussong JW, Kjeldsberg CR, eds. Kjeldsberg's Body Fluid Analysis. ASCP; 2015:chap 2)